Disinfectant and/or sanitizing cleaner compositions

ABSTRACT

Liquid disinfectant and/or sanitizer cleaning compositions are provided in the form of homogeneous aqueous solutions which comprise water, a germicidal quaternary ammonium halide compound and a glycoside surfactant and in which the weight ratio of the quaternary ammonium halide compound to the glycoside surfactant is at least 0.65!1. Such compositions may also optionally include additional ingredients such as water soluble detergent builders, water miscible organic solvents, hydrotropes, perfumes, dyes, colorants, thickeners, soil suspending agents, deodorizers, ammonia, aerosol propellants and the like.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention pertains to aqueous disinfectant and/or sanitizingcleaning compositions containing a germicidal quaternary ammonium halidecompound and a glycoside surfactant material and to the use of suchcompositions for disinfecting and/or sanitizing surfaces, articles, etc.contaminated with undesired bacterial, fungal and/or viral organisms.

Alkyl glycoside materials such as, for example, higher alkylmonoglycosides and higher alkyl polyglycosides are known materials; areknown, at least in certain circumstances, to function as nonionicsurfactants; and have been suggested as being suitable for use incertain specially formulated detergent compositions. See in this regard,for example, Published European Patent Application Nos. 0070074;0070075; 0070076; and 0070077, all of which published on Jan. 19, 1983as well as Published European Patent Application Nos. 0075994; 0075995;and 0075996 which published on Apr. 6, 1983. See also Published EuropeanPatent Application No. 0105556 (published Apr. 18, 1984) which disclosesliquid detergent compositions containing anionic surfactants,alkylpolyglycoside surfactants, selected nonionic surfactants andoptionally also containing various other ingredients such as suds,stabilizing amine oxide surfactants, detergent builder materials, andthe like; Published European Patent Application No. 0106692 (publishedApr. 25, 1984) which discloses stable heavy-duty liquid detergentcompositions containing a mixture of an ethoxylated fatty alcoholnonionic surfactant, an aklylpolyglycoside surfactant and a quaternaryammonium cationic surfactant in conjunction with a polyethylene glycolcompound and a wide variety of optional conventional laundry detergentadditives; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,493,773 (issued Jan. 15, 1985) whichdiscloses laundry detergent compositions which contain a conventionalnonionic detergent surfactant, an alkylpolyglycoside detergentsurfactant and a quaternary ammonium cationic fabric softeningsurfactant and which are said to be capable of including a wide varietyof conventional laundry detergent additives such as relatively smallamounts of detergent buildings, detergency cosurfactants such astrialkyl amine oxides, solvents such as ethanol, and the like.

A relatively specialized category of cleaning coposition of interest tothe art is one which is often referred to as a liquid detergent hardsurface cleaning composition and which is specifically designed orformulated such that it can be applied to a soiled hard surface ofinterest (e.g., glass, painted walls, woodwork, etc.) and removedtherefrom (for example as by wiping with a dry or damp cloth) without asubsequent rinsing operation and without leaving a significant orunsightly residual film upon the surface after cleaning. Thus, forexample, in Published South African Patent Application No. 666,781 thereis described a hard surface cleaner composition which comprises from1-10% of an anionic surfactant (e.g., alkyl sulfate or alkyl arylsulphonate) or a nonionic surfactant (e.g., an ethylene oxide condensateof a fatty alcohol or of an alkyl phenol) and at least 20% of a 1:1 to4:1 ratio mixture of an alkali metal (or ammonium) borate and sodiumcarbonate and which, at a 1% concentration in water, has a pH of atleast 9.6

On the other hand, U.S. Pat. No. 3,591,510 to William Edward Zenk(issued July 6, 1971) describes certain liquid hard surface cleaningcompositions consisting essentially of from about 0.25 to 4% of certainselected anionic or zwitterionic detergents; from about 0.5 to about 6%of certain water soluble builder components; from about 1 to about 10%of certain selected organic solvents or solvent mixtures; and thebalance being water.

In a recent journal article, namely "A Greasy Soil Hard Surface CleaningTest" by Morris A. Johnson, JAOCS, vol. 61, No. 4, pages 810-813 (April1984), a series of commercially available solvent-based and water-basedcleaners were tested for greasy soil removal effectiveness at variousdilution ratios.

Hard surface cleaning formulations are also discussed in "Formulation ofHard Surface Spray Cleaners" by R. E. Johnson and E. T. Clayton,detergents and specialties, June 1969, pages 28-32 and 56. Formulationsdiscussed in such article includes (a) one which was composed of 1weight percent of a nonionic surfactant (linear alcohol ethoxylate), 2.5weight percent of anhydrous tetrapotassium pyrophosphate (builder), 5weight percent of ethylene glycol monobutyl ether (solvent) and thebalance water and (b) another which was the same as the former exceptthat the indicated nonionic surfactant was replaced with a correspondingamount of a linear alkylbenzenesulfonate anionic surfactant. In saidarticle, it is noted that the aforementioned nonionic surfactant-basedformulation exhibited slightly more filming (i.e., being given a"moderate" film rating) than its corresponding anionic surfactant-basedcounter-part (which obtained a "moderate-good" film rating).

In U.S. Pat. No. 4,065,409 to John J. Flanagan (issued Dec. 27, 1977),there are disclosed certain liquid detergent compositions which compriseaqueous solutions containing certain selected ethoxylated nonionicsurfactants in combination with certain amine oxide and quaternaryammonium halide surfactant components. Such compositions are describedas being useful as hard surface detergents for cleaning surfaces such aspainted wood, plaster or wall board; tile; glass; metal; linoleum andthe like. The combination of the three surfactant ingredients indicatedabove is said to exhibit improved detergent properties relative to thoseexhibited by compositions containing any one or two of said ingredientsat equivalent concentrations.

In U.S. Pat. No. 4,174,304 to John J. Flanagan (issued Nov. 13, 1979),surfactant systems comprising, in certain specified proportions, acombination of certain ethoxylated nonionic, amine oxide and quaternaryammonium halide surfactant components are described as being suitable,in combination with certain other specified ingredients (such asantifoaming agents, water softening agents, viscosity reducing agents,builders and the like) in the preparation of a wide variety ofcommercially useful cleaning formulations such as, for example,degreasing cleaner compositions; wax and floor finish strippercompositions; glass and smooth surface cleaning and polishingcompositions; and the like.

The development, evaluation and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)labeling requirements for cleaner disinfectant compositions such as, forexample, those containing quaternary ammonium halide compounds, nonionicdetergents and detergent builder ingredients are discussed in an articleentitled "Formulating Quaternary Cleaner Disinfectants to Meet EPARequirements" by Donald F. Greene and Alfonso N. Petrocci,SOAP/COSMETICS/CHEMICAL SPECIALTIES, August 1980, pages 33-35 and 61.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It has now been discovered that glycoside surfactants can be suitablyemployed as the nonionic surfactant component in aqueous disinfectant orsanitizer cleaning compositions of the sort mentioned in theabove-identified article by Greene and Petrocci. Additionally, it hasalso been discovered that glycoside surfactants are particularlyeffective in such compositions when ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid oralkali metal salts thereof are employed as a detergent builderingredient.

Accordingly, the present invention, in one aspect, is a liquiddisinfectant and/or sanitizer cleaning composition which, on a totalcomposition weight basis, comprises:

a. from about 0.01 to about 50 weight percent of a germicidal quaternaryammonium halide compound;

b. from about 0.01 to about 50 weight percent of a glycoside surfactant;and

c. from about 10 l to about 99.98 weight percent water; and in which theweight ratio of the quaternary ammonium halide compound to the glycosidesurfactant is at least about 0.65:1 (preferably at least about 0.8:1).

Such compositions may also optionally include:

1. from 0 to about 50 weight percent of a water soluble detergentbuilder;

2. from 0 to about 50 weight percent of a water miscible organicsolvent; and

3. from 0 to a total of about 50 weight percent of one or morediscretionary ingredients selected from the group consisting ofhydrotropes, perfumes, dyes, colorants, thickeners, soil suspendingagents, deodorizers, ammonia, antioxidants, and aerosol propellants.

The disinfectant and/or sanitizer cleaning composition of the presentinvention can, if desired, suitably take the form of a dilutable liquidconcentrate for the purposes of its convenient and economical initialmanufacturing or formulation operations, transport or distribution,and/or marketing and can then be subsequently diluted (e.g., by thefinal distributor or the ultimate user) with water prior to its ultimateuse in cleaner/sanitizer or cleaner/disinfectant end-use applications.

In their aforementioned concentrated form, the compositions of thepresent invention will typically comprise, on a total concentratecomposition weight basis:

a. from about 10 to about 50 (preferably from about 10 to about 30)weight percent of the germicidal quaternary ammonium halide compound;

b. from about 10 to about 50 (preferably from about 10 to about 30)weight percent of the glycoside surfactant;

c. from about 10 to about 80 (preferably from about 20 to about 70 andmore preferably from about 30 to 40 to about 50 or 60) weight percentwater; and

d. optionally, up to about 50 (preferably up to about 30) weight percentof a water soluble detergent builder; up to about 50 (preferably up toabout 30) weight percent of a water miscible organic solvent; and/or upto a combined total of about 50 (preferably up to a combined total ofabout 30) weight percent of one or more of the above-noted discretionaryingredients.

When the foregoing compositions ae diluted to their ready-to-use form(i.e., for their intended cleaning/disinfecting or cleaning/sanitizingpurposes), they will typically contain, on a total composition weightbasis:

a. from about 0.01 to about 10 (preferably from about 0.01 to about 5,more preferably from about 0.02 to about 3 and most preferably fromabout 0.02 to about 1.5) weight percent of the germicidal quaternaryammonium halide compound;

b. from about 0.01 to about 10 (preferably from about 0.01 l to about 5,more preferably from about 0.02 to about 3 and most preferably fromabout 0.05 to about 1.5) weight percent of the glycoside surfactant; and

c. from about 50 to about 99.98 (preferably from about 70 to about99.98, more preferably from about 75 to about 99.96 and most preferablyfrom about 90 to about 99.93) weight percent water.

The above described diluted compositions can, if desired, alsooptionally include, on a total composition weight basis:

1. from 0 to about 10 (preferably from 0 to about 5 and more preferablyfrom 0 to about 3) weight percent of a water soluble detergent builder;

2. from 0 to about 10 (preferably from 0 to about 5 and more preferablyfrom 0 to about 3) weight percent of a water miscible organic solvent;and

3. from 0 to about 10 (preferably from 0 to about 5 l and morepreferably from 0 to about 3) weight percent of one or morediscretionary auxiliary ingredients selected from the group consistingof hydrotropes, perfumes, dyes, colorants, thickeners, soil suspendingagents, deodorizers, ammonia, antioxidants and aerosol propellants.

In one of its aspects, the present invention is also a method forcleaning and disinfecting and/or sanitizing a surface or an articlecontaminated with undesired bacterial, viral and/or fungal organisms. Insaid method, the aforementioned diluted compositions, containing atleast a sanitizing or disinfecting amount of the germicidal quaternaryammonium halide compound, is contacted with said contaminated surface orarticle in a fashion so as to suitably sanitize or disinfect same.Typically, said compositions will contain, on a toal composition weightbasis, at least about 0.01 weight percent (preferably about 0.02 weightpercent or more) of the germicidal quaternary ammonium halide compoundfor sanitizing purposes and at least about 0.05 (preferably at leastabout 0.07) weight percent of same for disinfectant end-useapplications.

In a particularly preferred embodiment of the present invention, theweight ratio of the germicidal quaternary ammonium halide compound tothe glycoside surfactant will be at least about 1:1. Preferably theweight ratio of the germicidal quaternary ammonium halide compound tothe glycoside surfactant will generally be within the range of fromabout 1:1 to about 10:1 (most preferably from about 1:1 to about 2:1).

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Germicidal quaternary ammonium halide compounds suitable for use in thepresent invention include higher (e.g. C₈ -C₂₂) alkyl trimethyl ammoniumhalides; higher alkyl dimethyl benzyl ammonium halides; mixed higheralkyl (e.g., mixed C₁₄, C₁₆, C₁₂ and C₁₈ alkyl) dimethyl benzyl ammoniumhalides; twin long-chain dialkyl dimethyl ammonium halides such asdidecyl dimethyl ammonium halides, dioctyl dimethyl ammonium halides,etc.; lower alkylsubstituted benzyl quaternaries such as higher alkyldimethyl ethylbenzyl ammonium halides; and the like.

Glycoside surfactants suitable for use in the practice of the presentinvention include those of the formula:

    RO(R'O).sub.y (Z).sub.x                                    I

wherein R is a monovalent organic radical (e.g., a monovalent saturatedaliphatic, unsaturated aliphatic or aromatic radical such as alkyl,hydroxyalkyl, alkenyl, hydroxyalkenyl, aryl, alkylaryl,hydroxyalkylaryl, arylalkyl, alkenylaryl, arylalkenyl, etc.) containingfrom about 6 to about 30 (preferably from about 8 to about 18 and morepreferably from about 9 to about 13) carbon atoms; R' is a divalenthydrocarbon radical containing from 2 to about 4 carbon atoms such asethylene, propylene or butylene (most preferably the unit (R'O)_(y)represents repeating units of ethylene oxide, propylene oxide and/orrandom or block combinations thereof); y is a number having an averagevalue of from 0 to about 12; Z represents a moiety derived from areducing saccharide containing 5 or 6 carbon atoms (most preferably aglucose unit); and x is a number having an average value of from 1 toabout 10) preferably from 1 to about 5 and most preferably from 1 toabout 3).

Glycoside surfactants of the sort mentioned above, and various preferredsubgenera thereof, are fully discussed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,483,779 toLlenado et al. (issued Nov. 20, 1984), the discussion and description ofwhich is hereby incorporated by reference.

Glycoside surfactants suitable for use herein also include those of theformula I above in which one or more of the normally free (i.e.,unreacted) hydroxyl groups of the saccharide moiety, Z, have beenalkoxylated (preferably, ethoxylated or propoxylated) so as to attachone or more pendant alkoxy or poly (alkoxy) groups in place thereof. Insuch instance, the amount of alkylene oxide (e.g., ethylene oxide,propylene oxide, etc.) employed will generally correspond to from about1 to about 20 (preferably from about 3 to about 10) moles thereof permole of saccharide moiety.

In glycosides of the formula I above, the RO(R'O)_(y) group is generallybonded or attached to the number 1 carbon atom of the saccharide moiety,Z. Accordingly, the free hydroxyls available for alkoxylation aretypically those in the number 2, 3, 4 and 6 positions in 6-carbon atomsaccharides and those in the number 2, 3 and 4 positions in 5-carbonatom saccharide species. Typically, the number 2 position hydroxyl in5-carbon saccharides, and the number 2 and 6 position hydroxyls in6-carbon saccharides, are substantially more reactive or susceptable toalkoxylation than those in the number 3 and 4 positions. Accordingly,alkoxylation will usually occur in the former locations in preferance tothe latter. Examples of the indicated alkoxylated glycoside materials,and of methodology suitable for the preparation of same, are describedin U.S. patent application Ser. No. 06/704,728 filed Feb. 22, 1985 byRoth et al.

Glycoside surfactants of particular interest for use in the practice ofthe present invention preferably have a hydrophilic-lipophilic balance(HLB) in the range of from about 10 to about 18 and most preferably inthe range of from about 12 to about 14.

Water soluble detergent builders suitable for use herein include thevarious water soluble alkali metal, ammonium or substituted ammoniumphosphates, polyphosphates, phosphonates, polyphosphonates, carbonates,silicates, borates, polyhydroxysulfonates, polyacetates, carboxylates,and polycarboxylates. Preferred are the alkali metal, especially sodium,salts of the above.

Specific examples of suitable water soluble inorganic phosphate buildersare sodium and potassium tripolyphosphate, pyrophosphate, polymericmetaphosphate having a degree of polymerization of from about 6 to 21,and orthophosphate. Examples of polyphosphonate builders are the sodiumand potassium salts of ethylene-1,1-diphosphonic acid, the sodium andpotassium salts of ethane-1,1,2-triphosphonic acid.

Examples of suitable water soluble nonphosphorus, inorganic builders foruse herein include sodium and potassium carbonate, bicarbonate,sesquicarbonate, tetraborate decahydrate, and silicate having a molarratio of SiO₂ to alkali metal oxide of from about 0.5 to about 4.0,preferably from about 1.0 to about 2.4.

Water soluble, nonphosphorus organic builders useful herein also includethe various alkali metal, ammonium and substituted ammoniumpolyacetates, carboxylates, polycarboxylates and polyhydroxysulfonates.Examples of polyacetate and polycarboxylate builders include the sodium,potassium, lithium, ammonium and substituted ammonium salts ofethylenediamine tetraacetic acid, nitrilotriacetic acid, oxydisuccinicacid, mellitic acid, benzene polycarboxylic acids, and citric acid.

Polycarboxylate builders suitable for use herein also include those setforth in U.S. Pat. No. 3,308,067, Diehl, issued Mar. 7, 1967incorporated herein by reference. Such materials include thewater-soluble salts of homo- and copolymers of aliphatic carboxylicacids such as maleic acid, itaconic acid, mesaconic acid, fumaric acid,aconitic acid, citraconic acid and methylenemalonic acid.

Other builders include the carboxylated carbohydrates of U.S. Pat. No.3,723,322 Diehl incorporated herein by reference.

Other useful builders herein include sodium and potassiumcarboxymethyloxymalonate, carboxymethyloxysuccinate,cis-cyclohexanehexacarboxylate, cis-cyclopentanetetracarboxylate,phloroglucinol trisulfonate, water-soluble polyacrylates (havingmolecular weights of from about 2,000 to about 200,000 for example), andthe copolymers of maleic anhydride with vinyl methyl ether or ethylene.

Other suitable polycarboxylates for use herein include the polyacetalcarboxylates described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,144,226, issued Mar. 13, 1979to Crutchfield et al. and U.S. Pat. No. 4,146,495 issued Mar. 27, 1979to Crutchfield et al. both incorporated herein by reference.

Organic builders of the type described in pending U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 06/664,451 by Valenty (filed Oct. 23, 1984) canalso be suitably employed in the compositions of the present invention.

Preferred water soluble detergent builders for use herein includeethylene diamine tetraacetic acid or the alkali metal salts thereof,tetrapotassium pyrophosphate and sodium carbonate. Of these ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid and its alkali metal salts are especiallypreferred.

Water miscible organic solvents suitable for use in the compositions ofthe present invention include alkylene glycols and/or ethers thereof(e.g., mono-lower alkyl, C₁ to C₆, ethers thereof) such as, for example,ethylene glycol mono-n-butyl ether, ethylene glycol monomethyl ether,ethylene glycol monoethyl ether, ethylene glycol mono-n-hexyl ether,propylene glycol monomethyl ether, propylene glycol monoethyl ether,isopropylene glycol monoethyl or monopropyl or monobutyl ether, etc;polyalkylene glycols and/or ethers thereof (e.g. mono-lower alkyl, C₁ toabout C₆, ethers thereof) such as, for example, diethylene glycolmonoethyl or monopropyl or monobutyl ether, di- or tripropylene glycolmonomethyl ether, di- or tripropylene glycol monoethyl ether, etc.;t-butyl alcohol; tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol; N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone; andthe like.

As has been noted above, the compositions of the present invention canalso, if desired in a given instance, suitably include one or more ofthe various known types of supplemental or auxiliary ingredients oradditives such as, for example, hydrotropes (e.g., water soluble saltsof low molecular weight organic acids such as the sodium or potassiumsalts of toluene-, benzene-, xylene-, or cumene sulfonic acid, sodium orpotassium sulfosuccinate, etc); perfumes; dyes or colorants; thickenersand/or soil suspending agents (e.g., carboxymethyl cellulose, sodiumpolyacrylate, polyethylene glycols having molecular weights of fromabout 400 to about 100,000); deodorizers; ammonia; antioxidants; aerosolpropellants; and the like. Typically, such supplemental or auxiliaryingredients will be employed in relatively minor proportions.

In the preparation of the aqueous disinfectant and/or sanitizing cleanercompositions hereof, there is typically no particular criticalityassociated with the order of ingredient addition or the techniqueemployed in manufacturing or formulating same and such can therefore beaccomplished in any fashion that may be convenient or expedient underthe circumstances to provide the subject composition of interest in theform of a stable, homogeneous aqueous solution thereof.

As has been noted above, the compositions of the present invention, ifdesired, can suitably be initially formulated, transported, distributedand/or marketed in the form of a dilutable aqueous concentratecomposition and, in such event, can be diluted to the ultimatelydesired, end-use active ingredient strength by the eventual end-user orby a distributor at the retail or wholesale level. Alternatively, thecompositions hereof can also suitably be initially and directlymanufactured or formulated, transported, and marketed in their diluted,ready-to-use form as previously described in accordance with the presentinvention.

In evaluating the relative cleaning effectiveness of the subjectcleaning/disinfecting and/or cleaning/sanitizing compositions, it isconvenient to employ a Gardner Washability Apparatus (using a standardsoil tile and at standard pressure and sponge stroke settings), todetermine or quantify the cleaning efficiency of a given composition ofinterest. In determining the cleaning efficiency, reflectance values aredetermined using a Gardner Lab Scan Reflectometer for each of thefollowing: a clean unsoiled panel, a soiled panel and a soiled panelfollowing washing or scrubbing with a Gardner Washability Apparatus.Such reflectance values are then employed to calcuate % cleaningefficiency according to the following formula: ##EQU1##

The disinfecting and/or sanitizing effectiveness of the compositions ofthe present invention can be conveniently determined in accordance withthe Association of Official Analytical Chemists (AOAC) Use Dilution Testas described in the Official Method of Analysis of the Association ofOfficial Analytical Chemists, 13th Edition, Washington D.C., 1980, page58.

The present invention is further illustrated and understood by referenceto the following examples thereof in which all parts and percentages areon a weight basis unless otherwise indicated.

EXAMPLES 1 AND 2

In these example, the aqueous disinfectant cleaner compositionsdescribed in Table I below are prepared and are evaluated as to theirdisinfecting and cleaning effectiveness in accordance with the testprocedure described above.

The formulations of Examples 1 and 2 each employ a glycoside surfactantand are within the scope of the present invention. Controls 1 and 2employ a commercially available ethoxylated nonlyphenol nonionicsurfactant (9.5 mole ethylene oxide per mole of nonylphenol) in place ofthe glycoside surfactant and are presented and evaluated for comparativepurposes.

The results of the cleaning efficiency and disinfectant effectivenessevaluations are summarized in Table I.

                                      TABLE I                                     __________________________________________________________________________    Ingredients.sup.1                                                                             Example 1                                                                           Control 1                                                                          Example 2                                                                           Control 2                                    __________________________________________________________________________    Quaternary Ammonium                                                                           4.5   4.5  4.5   4.5                                          Halide.sup.2                                                                  Glycoside Surfactant.sup.3                                                                    4.5   None 4.5   None                                         Conventional Nonionic                                                                         None  4.5  None  4.5                                          Surfactant.sup.4                                                              Na.sub.2 CO.sub.3                                                                             3.0   3.0  3.0   3.0                                          EDTA.sup.5      2.85  2.85 None  None                                         Tetra Potassium None  None 2.0   2.0                                          Pyrophosphate                                                                 Water           85.15 85.15                                                                              86.0  86.0                                         TOTAL           100.0 100.0                                                                              100.0 100.0                                        % CLEANING EFFICIENCY.sup.6                                                                   24.9% 10.7%                                                                              7.3%  14.3%                                        DISINFECTANT    Pass  Pass Pass  Pass                                         EFFECTIVENESS.sup.6                                                           __________________________________________________________________________     .sup.1 Ingredients stated in parts by weight and on an active ingredient      only basis.                                                                   .sup.2 Quaternary Ammonium Halide = 1:1 weight ratio mixture of (a) nalky     (C.sub.14 = 60%, C.sub.16 = 30%, C.sub.12 = 5% and C.sub.18 = 5%) dimethy     benzyl ammonium chloride and (b) nalkyl (C.sub.12 = 50%, C .sub.14 = 30%,     C.sub.16 = 17% and C.sub.18 = 3%) dimethyl ethylbenzyl ammonium chloride.     .sup.3 Glycoside Surfactant = alkyl (C.sub.12 -C.sub.13) polyglucoside        (degree of polymerization = 3.0).                                             .sup.4 Conventional Nonionic Surfactant = Ethoxylated nonylphenol (9.5        moles ethylene oxide per mole of nonylphenol).                                .sup.5 EDTA = Tetrasodium salt of ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid.          .sup.6 Diluted 1 part formulation: 64 parts water (703 ppm of quaternary      ammonium halide) for disinfectant effectiveness testing and for cleaning      effectiveness testing.                                                   

While the present invention has been described and illustrated byreference to certain specific embodiments and examples thereof, such isnot to be interpreted as in any way limiting the scope of the instantlyclaimed invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A liquid disinfectant and/or sanitizing cleanercomposition which, on a total composition weight basis, comprises:a.from about 0.01 to about 50 weight percent of a germicidal quaternaryammonium halide compound; b. from about 0.01 to about 50 weight percentof a glycoside surfactant; c. from about 0.01 to about 50 weight percentof ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid or alkali metal salts thereof; andd. from about 10 to about 99.98 weight percent water; and in which theweight ratio of the germicidal quaternary ammonium halide compound tothe glycoside surfactant is at least about 0.65:1.
 2. The composition ofclaim 1 wherein the weight ratio of the germicidal quaternary ammoniumhalide compound to the glycoside surfactant is at least about 1:1. 3.The composition of claim 2 in the form of a dilutable liquid concentratein which, on a total composition weight basis:a. the germicidalquaternary ammonium halide compound constitutes from about 10 to about50 weight percent; b. the glycoside surfactant constitutes from about 10to about 50 weight percent; c. the ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid oralkali metal salt thereof constitutes from about 10 to about 50 weightpercent; and d. water constitutes from about 10 to about 80 weightpercent.
 4. The composition of claim 1 in the form of a dilutable liquidconcentrate in which, on a total composition weight basis:a. thegermicidal quaternary ammonium halide compound constitutes from about 10to about 30 weight percent; b. the glycoside surfactant constitutes fromabout 10 to about 30; c. the ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid or alkalimetal salt thereof constitutes from about 10 to about 30 weight percent;and d. water constitutes from about 10 to about 80 weight percent. 5.The composition of claim 4 wherein the weight ratio of the germicidalquaternary ammonium halide compound to the glycoside surfactant is atleast about 1:1.
 6. The composition of claim 1 in the form of a ready touse sanitizing and/or disinfectant cleaning composition in which, on atotal composition weight basis:a. the germicidal quaternary ammoniumhalide compound constitutes from about 0.01 to about 10 weight percent;b. the glycoside surfactant constitutes from about 0.01 to about 10weight percent; c. the ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid or alkali metalsalt thereof constitutes from about 0.01 to about 10 weight percent; andd. water constitutes from about 50 to about 99.98 weight percent.
 7. Thecomposition of claim 6 wherein the weight ratio of the germicidalquaternary ammonium halide compound to the glycoside surfactant is atleast about 1:1.
 8. The composition of claim 1 wherein the weight ratioof the germicidal quaternary ammonium halide compound to the glycosidesurfactant is in the range of from about 1:1 to about 10:1.
 9. Thecomposition of claim 1 wherein the weight ratio of the germicidalquaternary ammonium halide compound to the glycoside surfactant is inthe range of from about 1:1 to about 2:1.
 10. The composition of claim 4wherein the weight ratio of the germicidal quaternary ammonium halidecompound to the glycoside surfactant is in the range of from about 1:1to about 10:1.
 11. The composition of claim 4 wherein the weight ratioof the germicidal quaternary ammonium halide compound to the glycosidesurfactant is in the range of from about 1:1 to about 2:1.
 12. Thecomposition of claim 6 wherein the weight ratio of the germicidalquaternary ammonium halide compound to the glycoside surfactant is inthe range of from about 1:1 to about 10:1.
 13. The composition of claim6 wherein the weight ratio of the germicidal quaternary ammonium halidecompound to the glycoside surfactant is in the range of from about 1:1to about 2:1.
 14. A method of sanitizing a hard surface which comprisesapplying thereto a liquid sanitizing cleaning composition which on atotal composition weight basis, comprises:a. from about 0.01 to about 10weight percent of a germicidal quaternary ammonium halide compound; b.from about 0.01 to about 10 weight percent of a glycoside surfactant; c.from about 0.01 to about 10 weight percent of ethylene diaminetetraacetic acid or alkali metal salts thereof; and d. from about 50 toabout 99.98 weight percent water; and in which the weight ratio of thegermicidal quaternary ammonium halide compound to the glycosidesurfactant is at least about 0.65:1.
 15. The method of claim 14 whereinthe weight ratio of the germicidal quaternary ammonium halide compoundto the glycoside surfactant is at least about 1:1.
 16. A method ofdisinfecting a hard surface which comprises applying thereto a liquiddisinfectant cleaning composition which, on a total composition weightbasis, comprises:a. from about 0.05 to about 10 weight percent of agermicidal quaternary ammonium halide compound; b. from about 0.01 toabout 10 weight percent of a glycoside surfactant; c. from about 0.01 toabout 10 weight percent of ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid or alkalimetal salts thereof; and d. from about 50 to about 99.94 weight percentwater; and in which the weight ratio of the germicidal quaternaryammonium halide compound to the glycoside surfactant is at least about0.65:1.
 17. The method of claim 16 wherein the weight ratio of thegermicidal quaternary ammonium halide compound to the glycosidesurfactant is at least about 1:1.